The University of Mississippi Athletics
Track & Field Kicks Off Busy Weekend at Virginia Challenge
4/20/2023 | Track and Field
The heptathlon and hammer throw opened the three-day meet for the Rebels
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A pair of second place finishes to begin the heptathlon for Sara Van Aken and a handful of top marks in the hammer commenced the Virginia Challenge for the Ole Miss track and field team on Thursday.
Van Aken began the meet for the Rebels with the first event of the heptathlon, the 100-meter hurdles, where she placed second in the third heat and finished 10th overall among the 17 other competitors. In the high jump, she cleared the bar at 1.73 meters to tie for second place and add 891 points to her total.
The senior then took to the throwing circle for the shot put, where she tossed an impressive 12.28 meters on her second attempt, setting a new personal best and placing second overall. Van Aken would go on to take 10th overall in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.51 seconds, bringing her point total to 3,187 and setting her in eighth place through day one of the heptathlon.
The multi will conclude tomorrow for Van Aken with the long jump, javelin, and 800-meter run.
The women's team continued their opening day by shining in the hammer, beginning with a mark of 49.58 meters from freshman Brooke Franke. In the third flight, Jalani Davis threw 67.72 meters on her fifth attempt, giving her the best mark by a collegiate participant on the day and placing fourth overall.
Shey Taiwo would hit 66.42 meters on her final throw of the evening to place seventh overall and second among collegiate competitors, with Jasmine Mitchell coming in ninth overall after throwing 65.47 meters on attempt five. The Rebels had three top-10 finishes in the women's hammer, including three of the top-four collegiate marks.
Ole Miss would wrap up day one of the Virginia Challenge on the men's side with the hammer, as Joseph Lanham took 12th place with a throw of 56.04 meters.
The track and field team will begin a busy day two at the Virginia Challenge tomorrow, April 21 beginning at 11 a.m. ET with the heptathlon, before the field events begin at 1:45 p.m. ET and the track events at 3:50 p.m. ET.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Women's Heptathlon
Sara Van Aken – 3,187 Points, 8th place through four events
100-Meter Hurdles: 10th, 14.84 (+1.0) – 863 points
High Jump: T-2nd, 1.73m/5-8 – 891 points
Shot Put: 2nd, 12.28m/40-3.5 – 680 points - PR
200-Meter Dash: 10th, 26.51 (+2.5) – 753 points
*Long Jump, Javelin, and 800-Meter on Friday
Women's Hammer
4. Jalani Davis – 67.72m/222-2
7. Shey Taiwo – 66.42m/217-11
9. Jasmine Mitchell – 65.47m/214-9
27. Brooke Franke – 49.58m/162-8
Men's Hammer
12. Joseph Lanham – 56.04m/183-10
FOUL – Costen Campion
FOUL – Mason Hickel
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
Van Aken began the meet for the Rebels with the first event of the heptathlon, the 100-meter hurdles, where she placed second in the third heat and finished 10th overall among the 17 other competitors. In the high jump, she cleared the bar at 1.73 meters to tie for second place and add 891 points to her total.
The senior then took to the throwing circle for the shot put, where she tossed an impressive 12.28 meters on her second attempt, setting a new personal best and placing second overall. Van Aken would go on to take 10th overall in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.51 seconds, bringing her point total to 3,187 and setting her in eighth place through day one of the heptathlon.
The multi will conclude tomorrow for Van Aken with the long jump, javelin, and 800-meter run.
The women's team continued their opening day by shining in the hammer, beginning with a mark of 49.58 meters from freshman Brooke Franke. In the third flight, Jalani Davis threw 67.72 meters on her fifth attempt, giving her the best mark by a collegiate participant on the day and placing fourth overall.
Shey Taiwo would hit 66.42 meters on her final throw of the evening to place seventh overall and second among collegiate competitors, with Jasmine Mitchell coming in ninth overall after throwing 65.47 meters on attempt five. The Rebels had three top-10 finishes in the women's hammer, including three of the top-four collegiate marks.
Ole Miss would wrap up day one of the Virginia Challenge on the men's side with the hammer, as Joseph Lanham took 12th place with a throw of 56.04 meters.
The track and field team will begin a busy day two at the Virginia Challenge tomorrow, April 21 beginning at 11 a.m. ET with the heptathlon, before the field events begin at 1:45 p.m. ET and the track events at 3:50 p.m. ET.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Women's Heptathlon
Sara Van Aken – 3,187 Points, 8th place through four events
100-Meter Hurdles: 10th, 14.84 (+1.0) – 863 points
High Jump: T-2nd, 1.73m/5-8 – 891 points
Shot Put: 2nd, 12.28m/40-3.5 – 680 points - PR
200-Meter Dash: 10th, 26.51 (+2.5) – 753 points
*Long Jump, Javelin, and 800-Meter on Friday
Women's Hammer
4. Jalani Davis – 67.72m/222-2
7. Shey Taiwo – 66.42m/217-11
9. Jasmine Mitchell – 65.47m/214-9
27. Brooke Franke – 49.58m/162-8
Men's Hammer
12. Joseph Lanham – 56.04m/183-10
FOUL – Costen Campion
FOUL – Mason Hickel
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
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